Advent Day 14~A Chance Meeting finis

As a special treat for Austen Variation readers at Advent, I present the final part of what is now published as “A Most Affectionate Mother.”

Part 15

The next morning proved clear and bright and all things such a wonderful morning ought to be. Mary sat beside him on the seat of his modest gig. She had never ridden in such a vehicle before. There was something very freeing about having the wind in one’s face. True, the weather could make it inconvenient and uncomfortable, but travel was more often than not that in any case.

The horse clopped steadily along the road. Each step taking them closer to Longbourn. She wrung her hands in her lap.

“You are fretting again.” He glanced toward her, a mix of concern and amusement in his eyes.

“I suppose I am.” She pulled her hands apart and tucked them under her legs.

“You do not honestly expect your father to object after he practically threw us together, do you?”

“I rather credited that act to my mother’s attentions, but I suppose as to effect, there is very little difference.”

He chuckled and urged the horse on. “Never fear, I have not failed to give either of our mothers their fair share of the credit for this happy occasion.”

“At least your mother had a plausible reason for inviting me to Ashlea Cottage. Do you think—”

“For this purpose, she will find a way to manage the boys whilst we are gone. She does not like the task, but to get you as a daughter, she will persevere.” He reached over and squeezed her hands. “She has surprised herself by how fond she is of you.”

“Exactly what am I to make of that statement? Are you sure she will be able to—”

“Manage a few weeks until you return? The glow of her success will help her rise to the occasion. Though I have no doubt she will be only too glad for you to take over after we are married.” He glanced at her. “You have that peculiar look on your face again. What are you thinking?”

“You will not approve.” She turned her face aside.

“I understand being weary of your family’s meddling. Mine felt sure no woman would pay me notice if she did not force their hand.”

“So that is why you chose to start a school? Because your mother was certain it would result in a wife for you. She has very unusual methods, sir, very unusual.” She pressed her head to his shoulder. “You know, my mother might be in a fit of vapors if she sees us driving up like this. We are being rather bold you know.”

“I have no qualms if you do not.” He winked at her.

“Ah, sir. I know your games. If I say I do not, you will tease me that I want a public declaration so I can be sure you will not back out. And if I say I do, you will threaten to turn back before we are seen. Then you will write to my father and my parents will both come to Hetherington, my mother bringing all the commotion of a circus with her. And if I defer to your better judgement—you will never cease to remind me I have said that.”

He laughed long and deep, the sound she so dearly loved. “I have been warned of the dangers of marrying a clever woman and you are proving every one of those warnings correct. But I am undaunted, for I have a clever mother and know firsthand what I have asked for.” He pressed her shoulder with his. “You still have not told me why you are so anxious.”

“It is silly I supposed, but I dread my mother’s reaction. No matter what it is, I know it will be dreadful and embarrassing. She will take credit for she will have known just how it would be. She will compare you to my sisters’ husbands which will be awful no matter how she does it. Or she will be effusive in her relief that her least marriageable daughter is finally off her hands.”

“You seem to know your mother very well.”

“You think I exaggerate?”

“I know too well that you do not. I just wonder how you feel about living with mine when you come to know her better.” His voice turned low and serious.

“I think your mother is very ready to relinquish the duties of the household and enjoy the security of knowing all her sons are respectably married and that shall ease our way considerably.”

“That was no an answer.” He harrumphed.

“It will be well, I assure you.”

“And I assure you it well be well with your parents. See, there is Longbourn. I will show you.” He urged the horse into a slow trot.

“Mr. Bennet! Mr. Bennet! You are wanted immediately.” Mama shrieked as she flurried down the hall like a nervous hen. Was she afraid he might change his mind if Papa did not appear immediately?

Mary glanced up at Mr. Johnstone.

He leaned down, smirking, and whispered, “I said it would be well, not quiet, or easy.”

Papa trundled from his bookroom. “You have not even taken them to the parlor, Mrs. Bennet? Where is your hospitality? Come, Mr. Johnstone, join me for a bit in my bookroom whilst my wife expends her power of conversation—”

He meant interrogation—

“—upon her daughter.”

He glanced at Mary, a little apologetic and followed Papa away. No doubt he would have the easier time of things. Mama shooed her into the parlor and shut the door behind them.

“So then you have an understanding?” Mama stood near the door, hands clasped in anticipation.

“Would I have ridden alone, with him all the way here in an open gig, otherwise?” She rolled her eyes. No it was not polite, but no one could be expected to do otherwise under the circumstances.

“Do not be smart with me, miss. You would not be on the verge of marriage without my attentions. You should be thanking me, not putting on airs.”

Mary smiled and nodded. She made her way to her favorite seat. At least she might be comfortable while biting her tongue and biding her time.

“So you think you got him yourself? I was the one who invited him to dinner. I was the one who suggested that you two study together. How else would you have spent so much time together if it were not for my interventions?”

“Perhaps Mrs. Johnstone’s invitation to stay with them might have had some effect.” Mary squeezed her eyes shut. She should not have said such a thing, should not have tried to provoke Mama so. It was not kind and probably not smart either.

Mama stopped midsentence and stared at her, jaw agape. “You truly believe that an effort on her part to put you two together?”

“What would you call it?”

“The woman is half deaf and blind and her mind half gone.  I was surprised she had enough wits about her to write you a letter of invitation at all.”

Which would also require the power of sight to accomplish. Best not mention that to Mama just now.

“I will concede, it is fortunate that she saw you as able to offer her help with something clearly disagreeable. That will make it much easier for you to live with her. But the important thing is that you made proper use of the time together—”

“Do you to wish to hear of his home, or the school he has there?”

“There is plenty of time to talk about such things, later. Mrs. Daring has already assured me that the Hetherington Vicarage is quite suitable. That is enough for me right now. We must consider your wedding clothes. A trip to London is in order. With your Uncle Gardiner’s help, I cannot imagine it will take—”

“Mama, he will speak to our vicar about having the banns read starting this week. We will wed as soon as they have been read three times.”

“Why the rush child?” Mama gasped and turned pale. “You do not fear you are—”

“Mama! What are you suggesting? No, absolutely not. He has a school to run and his mother is not up to the task of helping. He needs me there as soon as possible to help with the students.”

“Oh, well, I suppose it cannot be helped then. I insist you be married from Longbourn, though. I have given the wedding breakfast a great deal of thought whilst you have been away…”

Mary smiled and nodded as Mama waxed long about the menu for the wedding breakfast and the guest list. Thought it might not be exactly what she would want, there was little point in arguing. As long as they could leave early enough to get to Hetherington that evening, it would be enough.

Hill handed Mary a box containing a medium-sized bride’s cake. Dear woman had seen an entire extra cake be baked for them to bring back to the vicarage to share with the children and Mrs. Johnstone. Mama did not understand the need, but Hill did.

Though guests still enjoyed Longbourn’s hospitality, it was time for the guests of honor depart. Mary and Percy—it was good to be able to call him that now—took their leave and headed for his waiting gig. Her parents followed them out the front door, Mama dabbing her eyes with her handkerchief.

“Oh, my dear girl! Whatever will I do? How will I manage such a dearth of female company here? With all four of you gone—”

Mary cringed. Her companionship had never seemed important before. “I am sure you will find Kitty’s companionship quite sufficient, Mama.”

“How can you say such a thing? You are going into a neighborhood where you know no one, you have no friends. I dread sending you into such a state.”

How odd that it never seemed to matter that was exactly what happened with Jane, Lizzy and Lydia. “I met a great number of people whilst I stayed in at the vicarage. I have no concerns at all.”

“That is because you do not know how lonely a woman can become. I insist, for your sake, bring Kitty with you. I know she can be a great help to you. Living with a man you hardly know is—”

“I know him far better than you think—and you have taken credit for that as I recall. Why do you not enjoy the fruits of your labor now and enjoy Kitty’s companionship for yourself.”

Mama dismissed her remark with a sharp wave. “Really it is nothing. I can have her packed and there tomorrow afternoon with no trouble.”

“Truly, it is better for her here.”

“I insist, I cannot be selfish with my girls.”

“Mama, Hetherington is a small village, much smaller than Meryton. There are few young men there, especially with the sort of prospects you would hope for in a son. There is nothing there for her. She would be much better off with Jane or Elizabeth who could see her introduced to a much wider acquaintance than I will ever have.”

Mama sniffed and snorted and rolled her eyes. “Well, if you put it that way.”

“Come, Mrs. Johnstone, we must away.” He beckoned to her from the gig.

Mary curtsied and rushed to him. He handed her up into the gig and they were off.

“Well that proved more difficult than I expected,” he muttered.

“Indeed? What did Papa have to say?”

“He suggested that your mother might be interested in visiting the vicarage soon. She hardly got to meet my mother whilst she was with Mrs. Daring.”

“Mama was insisting I bring Kitty with us, to … ah … assist me in my transition and keep me from being lonely.”

He stared at her wide-eyed, as though afraid to ask.

“Calm your fears. I made it very clear that there were no young men in Hetherington for her to meet.”

“Do you want your sister to stay with us?”

“Excuse me?”

“If you refused on my behalf … I just do not want to deny you anything that might make things easier for you.”

“What leads you to believe my sister would make things easier for me?”

“It is a done thing among many I have known.”

“Perhaps, by some. But not by me. You are already bringing me into a houseful of children, I hardly need another one.”

“Your sister is no child.”

“You do not know Kitty very well do you?” She harrumphed. “She is silly and flighty and frivolous. She would be bored to death with the shops in Hetherington, which she certainly would visit every day. That is one of her favorite activities after all. As for finding any assistance in her, you can drive that thought from your mind. She is—utterly useless is very strong so I shall not say that—let us say she is not likely to be helpful. She does not like to manage a household and is hardly sympathetic to children. If she must work, she complains bitterly and leaves tasks half done—hardly the example I want set for our young charges. She of all of us needs a very wealthy husband to deliver her from all those things she hates.”

“Do you mind having a houseful of other people’s children? You know, you did far more than anyone could have expected. If you do not wish to engage with them at that level once we return, there is nothing that says you have to. They do not need to be constantly watched over, they are old enough to leave home. If their parents were poorer, many of them would be apprenticed or working by now. You do not need—”

She laid her hand on his. “Pray stop, just stop. I know they are too old to be mothered, and yet, I am fond of them. I interact with them because I like them and I like to do it. It pleases me to believe that young Charlie’s behavior has become more tolerable since I intervened.”

“Indeed, it has. But there is something to be said for the youngsters learning how to manage bullies on their own, for they will have to in the future.”

“Do you want me to stop then, ignore the children as paying tenants and nothing more?”

“Hardly.” He mumbled under his breath. “You have been a great help to me.”

“Then stop trying to be so agreeable and allow me to do that.”

“Yes, Mrs. Johnstone.” He flashed his eyebrows just a bit and winked at her.

“Cheeky man.” She rolled her eyes and leaned against his shoulder.

“Obstinate, headstrong girl.”

“I take that as a compliment, sir.”

“One of many that I hope you will soon accustom yourself to.”

So, now that all is said and done, tell me, which of the two was the most affectionate mother?

Find earlier parts of this story HERE

You can find the complete book here: